Electromagnetic valve



April 3, 1951 c. A. SMITH ETAL 2,547,098

ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE Filed Jan. 9, 1948 um Illllll f "IIL 'lllll Patented Apr. 3, 19751 ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE Carl A. Smith, Ferguson, and Joseph A. Wasser,

Kirkwood, Mo., assignors to Missouri Automatic Control Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 9, 191.18, Serial No. 1,317

Claims.

This invention relates generally to electromagnetically operated valves, and has particular reference to the combination therewith of manual lJeans for actuating the valve in event of failure of electrical power.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved solenoid valve structure incorporating novel means for manually opening the valve in event of failure of electrical power.

Another object is to provide a solenoid valve device having novel manual means for moving the valve to an open position and which means is movable in a valve opening direction to a latched position in which the valve is held open during inoperation of the solenoid.

Another object is to provide in a solenoid valve device a novel manual operator by which the valve may be moved to an open position in which it is latched during inoperation of the solenoid and from which position it is automatically released upon resumption of operation of the solenoid.

More specifically it is an object to provide an electromagnetically actuated valve device having a` reciprocating valve which is normally biased to a closed position and is opened upon energization of the electromagnet, and which has incorporated therein a spring returned manual actuator adapted to engage the valve for moving it openward to a position in which the manual actuator and valve are jointly latched against return, when the electromagnet is inoperative, and from'which position the manual actuator is released to return to its normal position by a further opening movement of the valve by the electromagnet upon its resumption of operation.

A further object is to provide in a solenoid valve device having a normally closed valve,.a novel spring returned manual valve actuator having rotational and axial movement by which the valve may be moved openward to a position in which the valve and actuator are jointly latched, and by which the valve and manual actuator may be jointly released to return to their normal positions by axial movement of the manual actuator.

Further purposes and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following description of its construction and explanation of its operation when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is aplan view of a solenoid valve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. In this view the valve is shown in the open position to which it is moved when the electromagnetic actuator is energized, the manual `actuator being lshown in its normal inoperative position.

" actuator and in which position the valve and 'actuator are jointly latched. 1

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary portion of the valve body taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the manual actuator mounted therein.

Fig, 4 is a part sectional View of the lower part normal position.

' Fig. 5 is a part sectional view of the lower part of the valve body showing the valve in the open position to which it is moved by the manual Referring to the drawing a valve body is indicated at I0. The valve body has an inlet II, an outlet I2, and a wall I3 separating the inlet and outlet. Wall I3 has a horizontal portion I 4 which has a circular opening or port I5 therethrough. A valve seat I6 is formed on the inlet' There is a winding 2| mounted on top of the valve body IIJ which attracts the core 20 when energized. The winding 2| is laid on a spool "comprising a lower flange 22, an upper flange 23,

and a tubular connecting member 24. The

flanges 22 and 23 are of magnetic material While the connecting tube 24 is of non-magnetic material. The flanges and tube are suitably attached as by soldering. The winding is suitably insulated from the spool by insulators 25 and 26.

The tube member 24 loosely receives the core 20 and it is fitted at its upper end with a hollow closure plug 21 having a tapered portion 28 therein which cooperates with a rounded end closure. plug 29 in the upper end of the hollow core 20 to center the core in the tube at its upper end.

The winding is attached to the top of the valve v by means of an inverted cup shaped and flanged attaching member 30. The lower flange 22 of the spool being welded or brazed to the member 39 and the member 30 being attached in turn to the valve body by the attaching screws 30a. The upper side of the valve body is provided with a large circular opening 3l concentric with and approximately of the same diameter as the inside At its lower end thel diameter of the cup 30. hollow core 29 is fitted with a perforated closure plug 32 which slidably receives the valve stem I8. The upper end of the valve stem is provided with` a head Ia which limits its outward travel with respect to the core. There is a spring 33 between the upper end of plug 32 and the head of the valve stem which eliminates the noise of metal The headH plug 32. The construction and operation of thisA centering device is fully shown yand described in Patent No. 2,360,945, issued October 24, 1944, to Claude M. Garner. The winding 2| `is provided with a cup shaped cover 31 of magnetiomaterial which closely fits over the flange 22 at its. lower open end and which is attached to the spool at its uppenclosed end by. a stud formed as a part ofi .the tube closuremember 21 and by a nut 39. The cover 35 is provided with an internally threaded side outletl 49 thru which the winding leads4fl pass. Theoutlet is adapted to receive threadedrigid electrical conduit and it will be noted that, by provision of the attachingmeans shown. and described, the coil may be rotated with respect to the valve body by merely loosening the attaching screws 30a.. Bythis provision the outlet 4,0 may be. positioned to accommodatev the conduit.

The valvestem I8. is alsov provided at its lower end withA a spacer 42 of substantially larger diameter than the valve stein and there is aileather bumper 43 on the lower Surface of the closure plug 3-2. The spacer 42 provides a shoulder for limiting telescoping of the valve stem within the. coreand .theV leather` bumper 4.3 eliminates a noisy metal to metal contact between the vclosure plugA andthe spacer when the core drops upon deenergization of the coil. Telescoping of the valve stem in the core 2 0 permits the core to ac. celerate to some extent upon energization of the winding before the, valve isy lifted from its seat,

thusimpartingahammer blow to the valve which i the valve body and near the .bottomfthereofhav-p inggits axis transverse to the axisof the valve assembly and being-spaced horizontally there-v from. The bore 44 opens into the valve body 011 the, outlet side of the Wall- I3. Fitted intofthe bore 44 is a hollow,externally screw threaded guide,

member 45 havinga screwthreaded portion-.4E

\ adapted to engage the thread .bore 44 and havingan,enlarged screw. threaded portion 4.1 adapted to receive an internally screw threaded cap 48. The guide member 45 vis provided. with a, screw driver slot 49 and the capl 48 is. provided with a knurl surface 50.4 There is, a pliable sealing, gasket I` between the enlarged portion 41 ofthe guide member and the valve body.

Slidably fitted in ,the` guide member 45 is la horizontal actuating rodj 52 having a, knurled or fluted head 53 rigidly attached to the outer end thereof by a screw 53a. There is an arm 54 rigidly attached at one end te the inner endof rodv 52'. Therarm 54 has a straight side 55 which under certain conditions engages the upset head I9 on the.. end of the valve stem to latch the valve open. The other side of the arm, is provided with 'an arcuate surface 56 near its outer end which engages the valve to move the valvev openward as. the vactuating rod 52 is'rotated. There is a spring 5'I `surrounding the actuating rod 52 and having one yof its ends lattached t0 lhe'gllid'e member asvindicated at 58 and its other endeattached to the arm 55 as indicated at 59.

The spring 51 acts torsionally v,on the rod 52 to rotate the army counterclockwise ,tolits .normal returned position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The spring 57 also urges the rod axially and therefore the arm 54 toward the right in Fig. 3, that is, inwardly., In its innermost normal position, the arm 54 is aligned substantially with the vertical center line of the valve assembly and the upset head I9, see. Fig. 3. The center line of the actuating rod 52 is spaced horizontally from the vertical center line of the valve assembly a distance substantially equal `to one half the diameter of thevupset head I9 and the straight side 55 of the arm 54 intersects the center line of the rod 52, so that the straight side 55 is substantially vertical, as shown in Fig.' 5 when it engagesfwthe head I9. The armis therefore substantially in a deadi center position wherein the downward thrust due A' to the weight 'of' the valve assembly is ineffective to rotate the arm 54.

In operation In -normal `operation when the winding 2-I-` is energized by a source ofvelectrical energynot vshown) the core 25 is moved to its uppermost position, lifting valve I1 upward to the position shown in Fig. 2. Upon deenergization of the winding the core is released', and the valve I'i falls to its seat. The falling core contacting the spacer V-42 and adding valve closure pressure.

In the event, however, of temporary failure of the Vsource of electrical energy and it is desirableA that flow through the devicebe continuedduringV this period, as in the case wherein the device con-v vtrois the flow' of fuel, to a space heater, the valve may be opened and set in an open position iin the following manner: rllhe knurledclosure capV 48 on the manual actuator is removed, the head Y 53 is then lrotated manually counterclockwi-se as' "far as it will go. VAs. the'headl 53 is rotated the curved surface 56, near the free end of'arm 54, contacts the valve Il lifting it vertically from.

its seat. Rotation is continued until the arm 54' valve I1 is not lifted asfar from its seat by the arm 54, see Fig.v 5', as itisY by the electromagnetic actuator, seeV Fig. 2'. -Upon return' of electrical power and the resumption of. operation of the electromagnetic actuator;v the valve I1 will `belifted farther openward releasing the arm 5'4 and` manually, the valve may be tripped fromV the manually set'positionby grasping the -head' 53 and pulling outwardly against the spring 5-1. *Asp the head 5 3 is-pulled outwardly, the arm 54 Wil-l be` l moved out of its normal alignment with the-upsetV head -I9' and it will be permitted to rotate underurging of spring 51 to an inoperative-position'.-

The end of therarm is at itsj The foregoing description and accompanying drawing are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. The scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a device of the class described, a valve body, a valve in said body, means biasing said valve in a closing direction, a shaft journalled in the wall of said body for rotational and axial movement and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof, said shaft being arranged substantially perpendicular with respect to the direction of movement of said valve, a handle on the exterior end of said shaft, spring means normally urging said shaft axially inwardly and in one rotational direction, an arm on the interior end of said shaft having a free end adapted to, engage said valve and to move it openward as said shaft is manually rotated in an opposite direction, and a shoulder on said valve adapted to engage the free end of said arm as it is moved to its maximum valve opening position, thereby to prevent the rotational return of said arm `and to hold said valve in an open position, said arm being movable axially out of engagement with said shoulder by the manual outward movement of said shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, ya Valve body, a reciprocating valve in said body, means biasing said valve in a closed position, a shaft journalled in the wall of said body for rotational and axial movement and extending exteriorly and interiorly thereof, said shaft having its interior end adjacent said valve and being arranged transversely with respect to the travel thereof, a handle on the exterior end of said shaft, spring means normally urging said shaft axially inwardly and in one rotational direction, an arm on the interior end of said shaft having a free end adapted to engage said valve and to move it openward as said shaft is manually rotated in an opposite direction, said shaft being located with relation to said valve so that said arm is substantially aligned with the direction of travel of said valve when in its maximum valve opening position, and a shoulder on said valve adapted to engage the free end of said arm as it is rotated to its maximum valve opening position, whereby said arm and valve are conjointly latched against return, said arm being movable axially out of engagement with said shoulder thereby to release said arm and said valve.

3. In combination, a reciprocating valve, means biasing said valve in a closed position, an electro magnetic actuator for moving said valve open- Ward a predetermined amount when energized, and a manual actuator for opening said valve when said electromagnetic actuator is inoperative comprising a shaft mounted for axial and rotational movement, said shaft having an inner end adjacent said valve and being arranged transversely with respect to the direction of travel thereof, spring means normally biasing said shaft axially in a direction toward said valve and rotationally in one direction, an arm on the inner end of said shaft having a free end adapted to engage said valve and to move it openward as said shaft is rotated in an opposite direction, said arm being of such length as to move said valve openward less than said predetermined amount when rotated to its maximum valve opening position, and said shaft being located with respect to said valve so that said arm is substantially aligned with the direction of travel of said valve when in its maximum valve opening position, a handle on the outer end of said shaft, and a shoulder on said valve adapted to move into engagement with the free end of said arm as it is rotated to its maximum valve opening position, whereby said arm and valve are conjoint-ly latched against return, said arm being movable axially out of engagement with said shoulder as said shaft is manually pulled outwardly thereby to release said arm and said valve.

4. ln combination, a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a separating Wall therein dening inlet and outlet chambers, a port in said wall, a valve in said inlet chamber for controlling said port, means biasing said valve in a closed position, an electromagnetic actuator having communication with said inlet chamber for moving seid valve openward a predetermined amount when energized, and a manual actuator for opening said valve when said electromagnetic actuator is inoperative comprising a shaft journalled in the wall of said body for both rotational and axial movement and projecting into said outlet chamber, said shaft being substantially transverse to the direction of travel of said valve, spring means normally urging said shaft inwardly and yrotationally in one direction, an arm on the inner end of said sh ft having a free end aligned with said port and adapted to engage said valve and to move it openward as said shaft is rotated in an opposite direction, said shaft being arranged with relation to said valve so that said arm is substantially aligned with the direction of travel of said valve when in its maximum valve opening position, and said arm being of such length as to open said valve less than said predetermined amount, a handle on the outer end of said shaft, and a shoulder on said valve adapted to move into engagement with the free end of said arm as it is moved to its maximum valve opening position for preventing the return of said arm and said valve, said arm being movable axially out of engagement with said shoulder.

5. In a device of the class described, a valve body, a valve in said body, means biasing said valve to a closed position, a shaft journalled in the Wall of said body for rotational and axial movement and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof, said shaft being arranged substantially perpendicular with respect to the direction of movement of said valve, a handle on the exterior end of said shaft, spring means for urging said shaft rotationally in one direction, a member on the interior end of said shaft adapted to engage said valve and to move it openvvard as said shaft is rotated in opposite direction, and a shoulder on said valve adapted to engage said member as it is moved to its maximum valve opening position, thereby to prevent rotational return of said member and to hold said valve in an open position, said member being movable out of engagement with said shoulder upon axial movement of said shaft.

CARL A. SNTH. JOSEPH A. WASSER.

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